"I've already done the traditional thing," she sniffed of her ring from first husband Nick Lachey, who's also newly engaged to love Vanessa Minnillo. "I wanted to do something that was different."

She says that beau Johnson "had a plan a long time ago" to propose. "He had a [sit-down] with my mom and dad about it…He was a gentleman about it."

Now promoting a new Christmas album, she cooed that Johnson is "the best man in my life…He is just really thoughtful. Keeps me very centered. [He always] makes me feel like my feet are on the ground.'"